The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-11


FRENCH QUARTER IN New ORLEANS. From
Hlrpcrs War Vols.
However, the onfcderates were over
whclmingly defeated, and the two days
following driven within their almost
impregnable defenses at Vicksburg, where,
forty five days later, more than thirty thou
sand surrendered as prisoners OF war
Nearly as many more had been lost dur
ing the campaign from Pemberton's army
in killed, wounded, prisoners and deser-
tons.
Shortly after Vicksburg surrendered tho
Confederate forces, six or eight thousand
in number, at Port Hudson, three hundred
miles further south on the Mississippi
river Capitilated.
The fall Of Vicksburg with the conse'
qucnt control of the Mississippi river by
the Fedyals. greatly dlsheartened the
Confederate leaders and tended 10 con-
vince the masses III the South OF the nope
lessncss Of their cause.
TO use an express on OF the time, Grant
by taking Vicksburg had +'cut the Confed'
eracy in two"
Every soldier in the army of the Tennes-
see was specially proud of the great
achievement and long before the campaign
closed became very fond OF Grant and
thoroughly impressed with the idea that
he was the sblest of Union Generals
Toward the latter part of July the army
under Sherman returned from jackson
and the writer, regiment with many other
troops went into camp two miles below
ViCksburg, immediately on the river.
AS a most toilsome, dangerous and i'm
portant campaign had been entered upon
I f,,t
issue, it was only meet that all who had
engaged in it should have and ENJOY
well earned period OF rest.
Two miles below VIcksburg the bluffs re-
ccdc half mile from the river, and upon
the level place intervening the troops en-
camped. Meantime their duty was light
little drill in the mornIng and dress parade
ut night.
About this time tse enlistment OF Colored
troops began in the Department OF the
Tennessee, and the negro in the brand new
uniform of Union soldier was looked upon
with curious eyes.
A few OF the white troops at first found
fault with the idea of utilizing the colored
man in this way, but after little all took
it as a matter of course.
While passing through Louisiana and
IuioSi HuiNC VI 'p'' 'h'
followed the army. These at first were
shy, very respectful, and looked upon every
Union soldier as sort Of saviOr-a beng
whom the Lord had sent South to llberate
the poor down -trodden slave. Following
the army. however, and observing the
many human traits of "Mr. Lnkum's
sojers' soon disabused Sambo's mind OF
any erroneous first impressions.
hn "a tnp ~ M IA v foot from
the river bank, but though there was over,
head a hot July sun there was at nearly
all times IL delightful breeze.
little TO the north was Vlcksburg, TO
the northwest was the great bend in the
river that made the peninsula TO the west
ward. aud across which, twenty miles dis.
tant, the now victorious army three months
before had trudged through mud and
| mire.
The writer in his leisure moments prose-
cuted his medical studies, but sometimes
lay idly upon his cot and looked out upon
the great river as it swept by ''unvexed"
to the sea.
Often great logs and large trees foaied
| by in the free current, and now aud then
dead horse or mule and occasionally the
dead body of IA man.
But so cheap had human life become as
the war progressed, that an unknown
body floating by excited but little com
| mcnt
SO the time went by not nnpleasanty,
but few We're sick aud, these were made
quite comfortable III the large hospital tent
on the river bank.
At the wharf in front OF Vcksburg were
always a number of steamboats,, engaged
in receiving and discharglng cargocs.
| About 10 a. H. one day, n terrific explo-
, sion was heard in the direction of Weeks
| burg, and looking toward the steamboat
| landing, an immense column of smoke aud
| debris of all kinds was seen rising IN the
! arr. in moment this spread out ana
looked precisely like hugo mushroom.
1t was at once couIecturcd that steam
| boat had blown up, and as detail Of men
| had been made from the regiment that
morning for duty at the wharf, the surgeon
at once called for the ambauCe, and with
the writer, drove rapidly to the scene OF
the accident
A steamboat loaded with ammunition
had blown up. Part Of the ammunition
consisted of concussion shell A case OF
these II was supposed had fallen through
the gangway from the deck OF the steamer
to the bottom of the hold, when an explo
sion followed that immediately involved
| all the ammunition on tina boat
| Upon reaching tho wharf several dead
bodies wore seen lying upon the pave
ment, and all around were pieces OF the
| boat and debris of all kinds that at the